dizzojay | Dizzo is back from the Frozen North

So yesterday, Mr D and I flew back from wonderful Iceland. Although this had been our fifth visit in 18 years, the country never fails to amaze and inspire me. Walking down from our apartment into Reykjavik and seeing all our favourite landmarks; Hallgrimskirkja, the big church; Laugavegur, the main shopping street, Mal og Menning, our favourite coffee shop/bookstore, really made me feel like ths was a home from home.

Iceland, in geological terms, is a very young country. So young in fact, it's technically still a work in progress, and so its landscape is very savage. There are lavafields, geothermal spots, big jagged rock outcrops that have been sliced and scarred by glaciers, and haven't had the time for natural forces to erode them smooth. A large proportion of Iceland is classed as desert because it is so barren.

Yet, at the same time, especially in the Summer, Iceland has it's share of verdant green meadows and summer flowers. It's signature flower is a purple lupin (an Alaskan import) which grows wild and in vast numbers which can't even be guessed throughout the island.

And, having been wilting in 30 degree temperatures here in the UK, it was so refreshing and energising to actually feel cool - even if it was just for a week! temperatures ranged from 9 degrees to 13 degrees while we were there.

We had the opportunity to meet up with a lovely Icelandic lady called Audur who I met at Heathrow three years ago on the way to JIB, and we spent a nice couple of evenings with her. It helps to see a country from an entirely new perspective when you talk about it with a local!

So, now we're home, and reflecting on another great week in the Land of Ice and Fire. I'm sure it won't be our last!

Big Iceland picspam below ...

Purple Lupins

Acres of purple lupins, as far as the eye can see ...

Aspects of Reykjavik ...

Harbourfront

A regular visitor to Reykjavik harbour

Mal og Mennig - our favourite little bolt hole. Cappuccino surrounded by thousands of books ... what's not to like?

Schmoozing with the locals

Evening sun from our apartment window

Angry skies over Reykjavik

Midnight sun from our apartment window

Harpa - concert hall

Hallgrimskirkja

The Governor's House on Reykjavik harbour, famous because this is where, in 1986, Regan and Gorbachev sat down and opened dialogue between the USA and the USSR.
This understated little house in a quiet corner of a harbour on a chilly rock in the middle of the North Atlantic was the first domino in the tumbling chain of events that ended the cold war.

Reykjavik's main shopping street, Laugavegur in one direction...

... then the other!

Hallgrimskirkja in low evening light

Icelandic landscapes

Glacial spray from Gulfoss

A bit breezy at Gulfoss!
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With our Icelandic friend Audur at Blue Lagoon hot springs

The Blue Lagoon lava field with Audur

Mr D at Seljalandsfoss (underneath the waterfall)

Summer meadows

Seltun geothermal region. Basically, walking around on top of an underground volcano!

Seljalandsfoss

Summer meadows and waterfalls

Waiting for the Geysir

Boom!

Mr D admiring the geysir

Summer flowers

Hot springs around the Blue Lagoon

Seltun

Thingvellir National Park. This is the edge of the American continental plate

Cottages marking the site of Iceland's first parliament which was formed at Thingvellir in the 10th century. It is the world's oldest parliament in the true democratic sense of the word.